Police say that a suicide car bomb went off at the outside gate of the Somali parliament while security forces killed five suspected Al-Shabaab fighters including suicide bomber before they could make into the parliament building.

"The suicide car bomb exploded outside the gate of the parliament. Security forces killed five armed militants who tried to enter the building," said police officer Yusuf Mire at the parliament.

State Radio Mogadishu reported none of the Somali MPs was hurt in the attack.